Menopause Increases Risk of Osteoarthritis

Out of all the problems that develop during menopause, joint pain is something that takes many people by surprise. The hot flashes, the mood swings, the night sweats—these are all things we hear about a great deal, and though maybe not necessarily ready for the changes to happen, we are often prepared, or at least expectant.

In Rochester Hills, anti-aging treatments like bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can make a big difference in your quality of life as you age. Everyone ages, but that doesn’t mean you need to succumb to the hardships that come with estrogen decline and menopause. You can overcome joint pain and many other symptoms of menopause by talking with Dr. Waller, your anti-aging specialist, and getting started with anti-aging treatment in Rochester Hills.

The Truth about Joint Pain

Even though joint pain commonly develops during menopause, joint pain isn’t a direct symptom of menopause. Rather, joint pain is a common symptom of estrogen reduction, something that happens within the body when menses cease during a time known as menopause.

Estrogen reduction is a form of hormone imbalance that affects the female primary sexual hormone, which is estrogen. This is a leading cause of osteoporosis, which leads to reduced bone density. Osteoporosis increases your risk of developing a fracture and can make your entire body feel brittle, sore and weak.

Menopause isn’t directly to blame for the problem, but estrogen deficiency most commonly develops during menopause as a result of fluctuating and declining hormonal levels. This is why joint pain is such a common problem among women going through menopause, as well as for those who have crossed the threshold into a post-menopausal lifestyle.

If you think this indirect bone loss isn’t too big of an issue, think again. Within five years after menopause, many women lose up to 20 percent of their bone-mineral density.

The good news is that anti-aging treatments like bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can restore estrogen levels and improve bone health, especially when they are started early on. Many women don’t experience joint pain right away when they begin menopause. The problem can begin gradually, sometimes escalated as the result of an injury—which, by the way, you are more prone to as the problem develops.

You don’t have to wait for joint pain to be a problem for you before you seek treatment. Talk with Dr. Waller about the different anti-aging treatment options available for you as you begin menopause. You could be preventing yourself from a great deal of joint pain by doing so!